Speciation of coagulase-negative staphylococci in the clinical laboratory.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the API Staph System for the speciation of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Three hundred and seventy-one coagulase-negative clinical isolates were studied; 50% of these could be speciated using the code profiles of the API System. By reference to the Kloos and Schleifer schema, 93% of the isolates could be speciated. The distribution of the various staphylococcal species in clinical specimens was determined. It was concluded that the API Staph System would be a satisfactory method of speciation if the data base could be expanded. Such speciation may at times be helpful in interpreting the significance of coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates in the clinical laboratory.